Mail-crane.



E. G. LIVESAY.

MAIL CRANE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 11. 1911.

Patented Apr. 9, 1918, 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1, 1

Attorneys E. G. LIVES AY.

MAIL-CRANE.

APPLICATION men APR. 17. 191-7.

Patelited Apr. 9, 1.918,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- m6 Inventor Attorneys E; e. LIVESAY.

MAlL CRANE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 11.1911.

mawfi Patented A m-p9, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Witness es M r 1 v Attorneys 1 E. a. LIVESAY.

MAIL CRANE.

APPLICATION HLED APR. H, 1911.

Patented Apr. 9,1918.

4- SHfEETS SHEET 4- s am Attorneys pnrrnn stares PATENT carton.

EVERETT GREY LIVESAY, OF PRINCETON, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO LIVE-SAY SAFETY MAIL CRANE COMPANY, OF PRINCETON, WEST VIRGINIA.

MAIL-CRANE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 9, 1918.

Application filed April 17, 1917. Serial No. 162,664.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EVERETT Gr. LIVESAY, a citizen. of the United States, residing at Princeton, in the county of Mercer and State of West Virginia, have invented a new and useful Mail-Crane, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to mail cranes, and is particularly an improvement over the mail crane disclosed in my Patent, No. 1159849, granted November 9, 1915.

tis the object of the invention to provide a novel and improved apparatus for delivering a mail pouch to a mail car in a thoroughly practical, reliable and eflicacious manner, the apparatus being so constructed that it is safe in operation, eliminating danger to life and limb.

Another object of the invention is the provision in an apparatus of the character described of a. crane or delivering device movable from a set position to delivery position in the general direction of the movement of the train, in combination with a mechanism controlled by the catching arm of the mail car, for bringing the mail crane into operation at the proper moment, and to avoid a premature or tardy releasing of the crane, to avoid possible injury to the trainmen or passengers, and to assure of the movement oi the mail pouch to a position for delivery at the timethat the catch ing arm of the mail car is approaching the crane.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus having the characteristics above noted which can be used on single track railroads so that the crane can be set in either position for cooperation with trains moving in opposite directions, the apparatus. being so arranged and constructed that the crane will not be released, when set near a train moving in one direction, a train moving in the opposite direction, so that a train moving in the oppo site direction cannot catch the mail pouch.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a mail delivery crane of novel and refined construction, and having improved details, to enhance the utility and ethciency thereof. p

It is also the ob ectof the invention to nrovideapparatus of the nature pointed out which iscomparatively simple and. inexpensive in construction, which can be readily installed upon the road bed and mail cars, and which will serve its functions in a thoroughly satisfactory and desirable manner.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in new which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise form shown may be made within the scope of the claims, with out departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the appended drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating the apparatus, portions being broken away, the mail car moving toward the crane.

Fig. 2 is a view more or less diagrammatically illustrating the catching arm of the mail car in the act of taking the mail. pouch from the crane.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and illustrating the check valve used in the actuating device.

Figs. 4- and 5 are enlarged sectional details taken on the lines 4-4 and 5-5 respectively of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the structure for mounting and controlling the mast or standard of the crane.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on the line 77 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the adjusting means of the retarding spring.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatical plan view illustrating the crane and track mechanism.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of one of the tripoperated devices of the truck, portions being brol en away. i

Fig. 11 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 12is an end view of said device.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of one of the guides.

Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the guide.

The crane includes an upright casing 1 having a base flange 1 which is bolted,

spiked or otherwise attached upon ties of the track extending to one side thereof, to

support the crane at the side of the track a suitable distance therefrom so as to notin teri'ere with the passingtrains. The casing 1 has ahinged 10017.2 which can beopened to permit access to be had to the parts housed within the casing. A mast orstandard 8, preferably of tubular stock or cut from piping, is journaled for rotation through a bearing 1 with which the top of the casing is provided, and a cylindrical. thrust block 5 has an upstanding extension or' plug 6 secured within the lower end of the mast, said block having a rounded lower surface 7 seated upon a bearing plate 8 disposed within an upstanding socket bearing 9, with which the bottom of the casing is provided, whereby to support the mast for free turning movement-s about its vertical axis;

The upper portion of the mast carries the arms or jibslO and 11 for holding the mail "pouch 12. Said arms are preferably com.-

posed of tubular stock or cut from piping of suitable diameter, and are pivotally con nected with the mast. Thus, a horizontal bracket 13 of U-shape cross section has a depending-extension or plug 14, fitted and secured within the upper end of the mast, and the upper arm 10 is seatable between its ends in the bracket 13, and is pivoted within one end of the bracket by a pivot 15. The arm 10 is provided at one end with a clasp or device 16 for holding the upper end of the mail pouch 12, and said arm 10 has the extension 17 projecting be yond the pivot 15 and filled with lead or other material whereby said end or extension of the arm overbalances the other end of the arm to swing the arm to a vertical position adjacent to one side of the mast, when the arm is liberated by the removal of the pouch. A. set screw 18 is threaded upwardly through the bracket 13 adjacent to that end remote from the pivot 15 and serves to. Support the arm 10 at any desired angle,

a 'lock'nut 19 being threaded upon the said screw for holding it in any desired adjustment.

To pivotally connect the lowermost arm 11 to the mast between the ends thereof, an outstanding bracket 20 is bolted or otherwise fastened to one side of the mast and receives the inner end of the arm 11 which is pivoted, as at 21, within the bracket 20, ad-

. jacent to but spaced from its inner end.

The arm 11, like the arm 10, has a clasp 16 or other suitable means at its free or outer endfor the attachment of the mail pouch. The bracket 20 has a lower web 22 through which a set screw 43 is threaded upwardly, being held in any desired adjust} mentby means of a lock nut 21- thereon. The mnerterminal oi the arm'll which-extends beyond the pivot 21is adaptedto contract with ,the 7set screw123 when the arm '-'1-1"swi-n gS Upwar ly, whereby to limit the upward Q-movernent of said arm at ,any ia si're no i es-By adju ti the s 1 "screws '18 and28, 'th'erefore,fthe movement clevis 34 pivetedi to its of the arms 10 and 11 downwardly and upwardly respectively toward one another can be limited, for properly holding a bag, de pending upon whetherthe track is straight or curved, and also permitting the-arms to be set to hold the bag taut therebetween whereby it will be more effectively caught by the catching arm of the mail car: l Vhen the mail pouch .is removed from the arms, the upper arm 11 swings upwardly, and, the lower arm 11 swings downwardly out of the way adjacent to the vertical axes of the mast, so that said arms will not be apt to cause injuries to the trainmen or passengers.

The handle 25 is pivoted, as at 26, to the mast 3 above thecasing 1 for convenience in turning the mast to set the crane in either position with the arms or jibs of the crane projecting toward the direction from which the train approaches the crane, said handle swinging downwardly out of the way against the mast when not raised for turningsaid mast.

As a means for holding the mast in either of its two set positions, a pair of opposed alining detents or latch bolts 27 are slidable through guide sleeves 2S which'wi'th opposite sides of the casing 1 are provided adjacent to the bottom and base flange 1 and the inner ends of said detents are slidable within diametrically opposed apertures 29 with which the socket 9 is provided.

The detents are moved by spring tension inwardly against the bearing block of the mast by means of coiled wire expansion sprirgs 30 surrounding the detents and confined betweentheguide sleeves 28 and nuts 31 ad ustably mounted upon the detents adijacent'to the socket 9. The block 5 has a radial recess 32 movable into alinement with one aperture 29 or the other when themast is rotated to one of its two set positions,

so that the corresponding detent will spring into the recess 32 for holding the mast in its set position. hus, when the mast is turned to one set position, one detent is operable for holding the mast against rethe proper detent to be retracted before the. 'mast 1s released.

A device is employed for rotating ill mast from either of its set positions-to deiliverv' position with the arms or jibs projecting toward the track.- This device in- }cludesan arm 38 secured to and projecting radially from themes-t within th casing near the upper end thereof, and having a tachmerit thereto of as jfiexible element "35' which is'passed around free end for rthervat pulleys 36 disposed in the horizontal plane of the arm 34 with their axes vertical. The pulleys 36 are mounted for rotation between ears 37 projecting inwardly from the walls of the casing, and said pulleys serve to guide the cable from the arm 33 to the opposite side of the casing which has an inwardly projecting portion 38 with which a vertical pulley 39 is assembled for rotation about a horizontal axis, the cable passing over and depending from the pulley 39 from the last pulley 36. A suitable weight 40 is attached to the depending free end of the cable, and in pulling the cable will tend to swing the arm 33 to the position illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 with the arms or jibs 10 and 11 projecting toward the track. Consequently when the mast is turned in either direction to one set position, the arm 33 in being moved away from the respective pulley 36 will pull the cable 35 with it and thereby raise the weight 40 which will tend to turn the mast back to intermediate or delivery position. Instead of being weightoperated this device can be operated bya spring orother equivalent means.

In order to check or arrest the'turnin'g movement of the mast when it is brought to delivery position, a flat or leaf spring 41 for retarding the mast, extends across the interior of the casing, and has one end fastened to an inwardly projecting lug 42 with which one wall of the casing is provided. The opposite wall of the casing has a slotted or U-shaped lug 43 receiving the free end of said spring which is swiveled to the end of an adjusting screw 44 threaded into said lug and projecting into the slot thereof. By adjusting the screw 44 the spring 41 which projects past the mast adjacent to one side thereof, can be brought closer to or farther from the mast at its intermediate point which is nearest the mast. Attached to one side of the mast is a radial ti-shaped lug 45 having a rounded end engageable with and adapted to wipe along the intermediate portion of the retarding spring 41 which is properly adjusted for the engagement of said lug.

When the mast is turned in either direction to set position, the lug 45 will be removed from the spring 41, and when the mast is released so as to turn to delivery position, the lug 45 will contact with and wipe along the spring 41 thereby checking and stopping the movement of the mast when in delivery position, and preventing the excessive or oscillatory movement of the mast which would be objectionable. The lug 45 is only engageable with the spring 41 when the mast is in delivery position, and there is no possibility of the retarding spring and lug'hindering or checking the movement of the mast otherwise. The lug 45 in engaging the spring will how it and the tension of the spring is controlled by the adjustment of the screw 44 as will be apparent.

The retraction of the detents 27 is controlled by two trip-operated devices 46 associated with the track at suitable distances from the crane. in each direction. One of these devices is illustrated in detail in Figs. 10, 11 and 12 and embodies a pair of castings or blocks 47 bolted or otherwise fasten-ed to the outer side of that rail 48 of the track nearest the crane and said blocks have upstanding bifurcated lugs 49 in which the remote ends of a pair of levers 50 are pivoted as at 51. The levers 50 are preferably constructed of T-iron with their webs pivoted to the blocks 47 and having theirflanges uppermost. Said levers project to ward one another, and their remote ends are substantially flush with or slightly below the tread of the rail 48, and the adjacent ends of the levers are normally raised slightly above the tread of the rail to be depressed by the trip device of the train. Said levers are located upon the outside of the track and project toward one another in an upwardly converging position, so that the trip device'can move over the same easily in either direction. The adjacent ends of the levers are operatively connected by a pair of plates 51 bolted or otherwise fastened, as at 52, to the web of one lever 50 at its free end and overlapping the web of the other lever, the overlapping portions having slots 53 receiving a bolt or pin 54 engaged through the web of the last mentioned lever, whereby the two levers are depressed and raised simultaneously.

As a means for transmitting the motion of the levers 50 to one of the detents of the crane, a plate 55 is fastened by bolts, spikes or other suitable means upon the ties below the adjacent ends of the levers 50 of each trip device, and has a rock shaft 56 journaled thereto below an opening 57 with which said plate is provided- The rock shaft has an arn158 attached thereto and connected by a link 59 with the plates 51 between the lower portions of which each said link is pivoted, whereby the oscillatory movement of the levers 50 will be transmitted to the rock shaft 56. The rock shaft 56 has an upwardly projecting arm 60 attached thereto, and connected by a long link 61 with the outer terminalof the respective detent 27. Thus, the device 46 at the right in Fig. 9 is connected to the right hand detent, while the left hand device 46 is connected to the left hand detent of the crane, the links 61 converging from the devices 46 to the crane. The links 61 may be in the form of rods, pipes or the like, and are preferably provided with turnbuckles 62 for purpose of adjustment. 1

The links or rods 61 are preferably guided between rollers 63 of guide brackets 64: mounted in any suitable manner along said links or rods, whereby the links will slide easily with little friction.

Coming to the train carried mechanism, the same is preferably carried by the mail car 65 having the pouch-catching arm 66 carried by the usual rock shaft 67 mounted for rotation outside of the mail door 68. Said rock shaft has a handle 69 for raising the arm 66 to catching position as usual.

The car 65 carries the tripping device for operating the devices d6 of the track which control the movement of the crane. As illustrated, this tripping device embodies a vertical cylinder 7 0 carried by one truck 71 of the mail car, and having a plunger 71 working therein and depending therefrom over the rail 48. Said plunger has a depending fork 72 between the ends of which a relatively long transverse trip roller 73 is mounted for'rotation to provide the tripper which operates the track devices d6. When thepressure fluid is admitted into the cylinder 7 O, the plunger 71 will be depressed to press the roller 7 3 downwardly onto the rail 48, and the roller will roll on the rail past the track devices d6, said'roller projecting outwardly sufiiciently from the rail to contact with and pass over the track devices 46. The depression of the tripper is controlled by the movement of the catching arm 66, whereby the tripper is onlv depressed when said arm is raised to catching position. For this purpose, a pressure fluid pipe 7% is connected to the cylinder 7 0, and'to a secondary pressure fluid reservoir 75 which is connected by apipe 7 6 with the train pipe or auxiliary air reservoir 77 of the air' brake system whereby compressed air will be delivered into the reservoir 75 for operating the plunger, said reservoir 75 holding sufficient air to operate the device a number of times. A check valve 7 8 is provided for preventing the flow of air from the reservoir or tank '75 back into the train pipe or reservoir "77 whereby to prevent interference with the air brake'wsystem, and the flow of air from the air brake system into the reservoir 75 is restricted by a constricted aperture 79 permitting of only the restricted flow of air into the reservoir 75 which will not impair the operation. of the brake system. The pipe 74k has a flexible hose 80 interposed therein between the trains body and truck to permit of the relative movements thereof without interfering with the flow of air through said pipe. The flow of air through said pipe is controlled by a valve 81 interposed 'in said pipe, preferably above the rock shaft 67, I and connected bya' cord or other suitable connection "82 with theshaft "67, whereby when said shaft is rotated to raise the arm j66, the valve 8'1- which'is"normally closed will be turned prematurely, even neeaoee opened, thereby permitting the air to flow.

from the reservoir 75 to the cylinder to depress the plunger 71 and trip roller 73. T he mechanism for controlling the trip device can be modified and operated by various means. Thus, the valve 81 can be taken to represent or typify means for controlling power operated means for operating the trip device and operated by the pouch-catching device of the car. The fork 72 is preferably connected by a link 83 with the truck 71 to act as a stay or brace for preventing the displacement of the plunger 71 and the fork 72 out of their vertical position due to the engagement of the trip device with the rail and track devices ac.

In operatioin'assuming that the train to which a mail pouch is to be delivered moves from the right to the left in the direction of the arrow 84 in Fig. 9, after the pouch is ap-, plied to the crane, he crane'mast is turned so that its arms or jibs project to the right or in the direction from which'the train will come, the mast therefore being held in set position by the right hand detent 27. It is therefore necessary for the right hand device 6 to be operated for releasing the crane mast, since the left hand detent and device 46 are inoperative in this position of the crane and vice versa. As the train approaches the crane, the mail clerk raises the catching arm 66 before reaching the crane whereby the trip-roller 73 of the mail car is, automatically depressed and in riding over the right hand device 46 will depress the levers 50 thereof. as well as the link 59 and arm58 which will result in the arm 60 pulling the rod or link 61 and retracting the right hand cletent. The crane mast is thus released at the proper time when thecatching arm 66 is approaching the train, and the arms or jibs of the crane will swing in the direction of the arrow 85 in Fig. 9 toward the track and train and in the general direction of the movement of the traintoward the left. T he pouch 12 is thus carried toward the train in the direction of movement thereof, and the arm 66 in following the pouch will catch it and remove the pouch from the crane to deliver it-to the mail car as usual. The swinging movement of the crane mast therefore facilitates the delivery of the pouch from the crane to the train with the least amount of jar or jolt to the pouch and apparatus, with a practically smooth operation. The crane mast is not released prematurely or tardily, since the device i6 is locateda suitable distance from the crane and said device being operated by the trip device of the mail car will lease the mast as the mail car approaches the crane within a limited distance therefrom.

This eliminates possibleinj ry to'the traim men and passenge's, since the mast is not only re though the .mail 7 car be at the rear end of the train, and as soon as the pouch is removed from the crane its arms or jibs will swing out of the way. When the crane is in set position its arms are out of the way and cannot interfere with the train or injure the passengers. hould the mail clerk tail to raise the arm 66 in proper time ahead of the crane, the trip dc ice being past-tho track device 46 which it should operate, will prevent the operation of the crane, which will therefore remain in set position even though the other track device a6 is operated. Therefore, when the crane is set for a train mo ing in one direction, the trip device of the crane must be operated at the proper time or else the crane will not be operated, and a train moving in the opposite direction cannot take the pouch from the crane since the mast cannot be re leased by the approaching ot the mail car to the crane.

The present apparatus can be installed upon the track and mail car with a minimum expense and work, and is exceedingly practical, reliable and safe. The apparatus has other advantages which will be apparent from the foregoing.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. The combination of a track cranehaving mail pouch holding means movable when released from a set position toward the track to delivery position, a track trip-operated device for releasing the crane for movement to delivery position, the train carried pouch catching means movable from inoperative position to catching position for cooperation with the crane when in delivery position, a pressure fluid operated train carried tripping device, and a valve operated by the catching means for controlling the tripping device to bring it into position to operate the trip-operated device when the pouch catching means is moved to catching position 2. The combination with a track and mail car movable thereon, of a track crane having mail pouch holding means movable from a set position toward the track to delivery position, a pouch catcher carried by the car, and movable from inoperative position to catching position, a track mechanism controlling the movement or" the crane to delivery position, pressure fluid equipment carried by the car, a secondary pressure fluid reservoir connected to said equipment, a check valve between said reservoir and equipment to prevent the flow from the reservoir to said equipment, pressure fluid operated means carried by the car for tripping said mechanism, and a valve controlled by the pouch catcher for establishinn: the flow from said reservoir to said tripping means when the pouch catcher is moved to catching position.

3. The combination with a track and mail car movable thereon, of a track crane having mail pouch holding means movable from a. set position toward the track to delivery position, a pouch catcher carried by the car and movable from inoperative position to catching position, a source of pressure fluid. carried by the car, a pressure fluid operated tripping device carried by the car and connected to said source of pressure fluid, means adapted to be operated by a set tripping device for controlling the movement of the crane from said set position to delivery position, and a valve operated by the pouch catcher when it is moved to catching position to admit pressure fluid to the tripping device.

4. The combination of a mail crane having a rotatable mast provided with mail pouch holdmg means adapted to be set in opposite directions, means tending to turn the mast to delivery position from either of the set positions, means for retarding the movement of the mast when in delivery position only, independent train-operated devices located in opposite directions from the crane, and a pair of independent detents connected to said train-operated devices, the detents of each of said devices being operable for holding the crane when it is swung to set position toward the other device.

5. A mail crane having a rotatable mast provided with mail pouchholding means, means for turning the mast from a set to delivery position, and means contacting 1ictionally and movable past one another for checking the movement of the mast wnen moved to delivery position only.

6. A mail crane having a rotatable mast provided with mail pouch holding means, means tending to turn the mast from either of two set positions to delivery position, and means movable past one another and contacting trictionally and yieldably for checking the turning movement or" the mast when it. is at delivery position only.

7. A. mail crane having a rotatable mast provided with mail pouch holding means, means tending to turn the mast from a set position to delivery position, a spring, and a portion carried by the mast to frictionally engage and move past said spring when the mast is in delivery position only for checking the movement of the mast.

8. A mail crane having a rotatable mast provided with mail pouch holding means, means tending to turn the mast from a set position to delivery position, a leaf spring, and a portion carried by the mast to wipe against said spring when the mast is in delivery position.

9. A mail crane having a rotatable mast provided with mail pouch holding means, means tending to turn the mast from a set position to delivery position, a leaf spring at one side of the mast, a lug carried by the mast to wipe against said spring when the mast is in delivery position, and means for adjusting said spring toward and away from the mast.

10. A mailcrane embodying a casing, a mast mounted to turn therein and having mail pouch holding means above the casing, means for holding the mast when turned to either of two set positions, means tending to turn the mast to delivery position from either set position a leaf spring extending across the casing and having one end attached thereto, means for adjusting the other end of the spring to move it toward or away from the mast, and a lug carried by the mast and having a rounded end to en gage and wipe along said spring when the mast is in delivery position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afi ixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EVERETT GREY LIVESAY.

Witnesses:

T. M. FRY, R. N. VERMILLION.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of latents.

Washington, D. 0. 

